First held in 1986 as a small private gathering, Burning Man is a week-long large-scale counterculture event held annually in the Nevada desert. Since its inception, it has inspired numerous smaller regional events, many of which are officially affiliated with the Burning Man organization. taBURNak! is one such event.
taBURNak! was first organized in 2010 on the initiative of Montreal Burners. The name of the event is a portmanteau of the word “burn” and “tabarnak”, a popular Quebec French swear word. taBURNak! was an annual event from 2010 and 2019, then took a long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was revived in 2024 by the Organisme de Décompression des Brûleurs de Montréal and its dedicated team of volunteers.
taBURNak! is a collaborative event that celebrates art, individuality and community, based on the ten principles inspired by Burning Man and shared by Burner communities worldwide. These principles are: radical inclusion, radical self-expression, immediacy, participation, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, civic responsibility/accountability, communal effort, and leave no trace.
The event is built on the active contribution of the Montreal Burner community: everyone is welcome to participate by submitting an artistic project, be it visual or decorative art, an interactive performance, or an immersive experience.
taBURNak! is an all-night event that lasts from dusk until dawn. It is more than a party: it is a social experiment where participants can unleash their creativity, experiment and explore while immersed in the principles and atmosphere of Burning Man. It includes artistic performances, transformative artworks, interactive installations, and musical performances.
Because some experiences can be quite overwhelming, taBURNak! also offers gentle spaces for participants to catch their breath, take a break, or even meditate. A decompression event is meant to be a positive and safe experience for everyone, and the taBURNak! team is here to make sure that it is.
taBURNak! is a ticketed event, but ticket sales are not for profit. Proceeds are used to rent a space for Burner events in Montreal and fund unrealized artistic products through grants.
taBURNak! is one of two annual events organized by Montreal Burners. The other is L’OsstidBurn, a five-day camp-out in June. Formerly organized by the Organisme de Décompression des Brûleurs de Montréal, L’OsstidBurn formed its own non-profit organization, L’Arti’Chaud Collectif, in 2024.
In addition to the two main events, the Montreal Burner community organizes smaller events throughout the year, such as potlucks, drink nights, fundraisers, and picnics. Montreal Burners have also participated in numerous Burner events across Canada and created major installations for Burning Man.
Photo: taburnak.org
